What is Personal Care?

Personal care refers to a range of personal daily living tasks that keep a person clean and comfortable. These tasks involve private hygiene such as bathing, toileting, and oral care. Additionally, other activities include dressing, eating, and ensuring medication is taken appropriately. An individual’s personal care requirements can differ depending on their overall health and level of mobility. Some older adults may require assistance with these tasks because they have problems with their joints, and strength, or have other health issues. For example, they may need help getting out of bed and into a chair or assistance with a bath or shower.²

Why is Personal Care so Important?

Personal care is key in promoting the overall well-being of elderly individuals. By engaging in personal care routines, individuals can experience a heightened quality of life empowering them to maintain their independence, health (physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially), and overall happiness.³

• Independence benefits – an individual’s personal care routine can be adapted to their specific needs so that their independence can be maintained in a comfortable and safe environment. Support for physical mobility enables them to continue living in their familiar environment and allows them to move around more safely, reducing the risk of falls and injuries. Assistance with outings ensures that a person can participate in social activities, continue their connections, and enjoy life beyond their home setting. Assisted Living care facilities can offer transportation when needed and senior transportation services are available.
• Physical health benefits – showering, dressing, and grooming are essential for maintaining physical health. Maintaining personal hygiene reduces illnesses and the spread of infection. It can also help certain health issues from worsening or reoccurring, such as skin conditions or urinary tract infections. Oral hygiene, including regular teeth brushing and denture care, prevents dental diseases and promotes overall health. Clean, appropriate clothing contributes to overall comfort. Maintaining a healthy diet, getting proper sleep, and obtaining adequate physical activity all play an important role in a person’s physical well-being.⁴
• Mental and emotional health benefits – by optimizing a personal care routine, a person feels better, looks better, and has more energy. This self-care is linked to enhanced mental health, resulting in greater self-esteem and self-worth, increased optimism, and lower levels of anxiety and depression. A warm bath and the use of scented products at the end of the day can help a person feel relaxed and ready for bed. Proper nutrition and sleep are additional aspects of self-care that contribute to mental well-being.
• Social health benefits – living alone can cause feelings of isolation and have serious health consequences. It is crucial to have a good social life to maintain overall wellness. Provided personal care support, such as what is available through an assisted living facility, offers an opportunity where an individual can form a genuine bond with their caregiver and gain companionship.
• Quality of life – when an older adult is caring for themselves and maintaining their overall health, they’ll be better equipped to live their best life. With proper physical health, the body will run more efficiently. There’s a strong connection between the body and the mind, so when caring for the body, one will think and feel better as well. Health problems, even relatively minor ones like aches, pains, fatigue, and indigestion impact people’s happiness and stress levels. Health problems can also make daily tasks more challenging. Poor health habits can add stress to an individual’s life and interfere with daily living. Therefore, maintaining healthy habits is extremely important for overall health. When daily tasks are managed and a healthy personal care regimen is in place, people can focus on activities they enjoy. Additionally, feeling well-cared-for increases happiness, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being, resulting in a higher quality of life.⁵

While personal care routines can differ for older adults, it’s important to recognize an individual’s specific needs. Prioritizing an appropriate routine is a vital aspect of care for seniors. It empowers them to maintain their independence, overall health, and increased happiness. When ensuring personal care for a senior has become challenging or too costly, or social isolation is a concern, consider the benefits of an assisted living environment and call CarePatrol Baltimore for guidance and recommendations.

References:

¹ Verywell Mind https://www.verywellmind.com/self-care-strategies-overall-stress-reduction-3144729

² National Institute on Aging (NIH) https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/aging-place/aging-place-growing-older-home

³ Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202302/understanding-the-mental-health-and-self-care-connection

⁴ Verywell Mind https://www.verywellmind.com/self-care-strategies-overall-stress-reduction-3144729

⁵ Verywell Mind https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-maintain-a-high-quality-of-life-3144723

Finding the right placement for a loved one is never an easy task. Emotions, fears, worries, and finances all tangle into what is often one of the biggest decisions a family must make. With the added complications of COVID-19 it can seem unmanageable. There are things you can do to make the process easier and make decisions with more confidence. And the most efficient thing to do is – work with an expert.

Senior care placement specialists like CarePatrol have helped hundreds, if not thousands, of families in similar situations find the best care for their loved ones. Especially now with COVID-19, the value and importance of having a locally-based specialist familiar with concerns around quarantine plans, visitation regulation, and sanitation make working with a specialist so much more advantageous.

A good specialist will know, after a care discovery discussion with you, which locations represent what you are seeking, and of those, who is accepting new clients. Personality fit, goals, and needs of the individual provide the added flavor for a specialist to make the best recommendations based on their knowledge of each community they work with and the types of individuals at each one. As an intermediary between healthcare discharge and assisted living professionals, we ensure appropriate communication of urgency and the need and condition of our clients. If an interim-care solution is required due to an expedited discharge (a reality of COVID-19 accommodations within hospitals) we can work with you to identify appropriate respite stay or home care options.

Today, with COVID-19 placing added concerns on a family seeking a placement, your specialist will know which facilities are operating under strict guidelines, which are having difficulties, and which are admitting new residents. This wealth of knowledge and the ability to guide you in the more subtle differences are why working with a specialist is so much better than going it alone. At no cost to you or your family, a senior placement specialist will take the time to discuss with you what is important. They do much more than provide a list of locations site unseen by a national resource listing service. Those services are simply pulling information off the web without any personal knowledge. The local specialist has an intimate understanding of each of their centers.

Service from the heart.

Our team has come into senior care from the deep desire to make a difference in their community. Most have experienced the trauma of searching for care for a family member or friend and being lost in the uncertainty of not knowing. The biggest concerns over whether a facility can care for you loved one and their special needs can be mitigated. CarePatrol certified specialists work together with their team to understand your needs. The Level of Care Assessment is our assurance that we have the details from you to make the best recommendations possible. Whether the situation is imminent, or the plan is long term for successfully aging well, you don’t have to struggle through it alone.

In the context of COVID-19, transitions of care are still a necessity. It’s interesting to note that our approach under COVID-19 is not far from our regular operations. Safety, efficiency and professional communication to provide the best care for the seniors we serve is at the heart of our offerings:

• No cost consultations (always) to help families develop strategies and options for safe care transitions.
• Closely monitored Assisted Living communities and tracking of current admission, touring policies and room type availability, using our up-to-date, detailed database.
• Virtual Touring using online tools if a facility isn’t open for on site tours.
• Providing current information and photos of our facilities online.
• Minimizing risks wherever possible, reducing tours of unqualified or non-appropriate facilities, identifying best matches prior to touring, and always over-communicating with discharge professionals, families, and care facilities to ensure streamlined transitions.

We can help you through this. Call us to get started today: (866) 560-5656

If you can’t even imagine leaving your home, you may want to consider aging in place. This trend has become popular with the aging population because it offers more cost efficiency and allows you to remain in your home.

Aging in place isn’t for everyone though. Homes with multi-stories and staircases can make getting around difficult, and replacing stairs with elevators or stairlifts can be quite expensive.

If you’re considering converting your home for safer living, find a Certified Aging in Place Specialist through The National Association of Home Builders. Professionals with their certification have completed special training on residential home remodeling for aging in the home.

The goal of home modifications is to make the living environment more accessible. Obvious changes include lowering the threshold of doors so they don’t cause falls, adapting the home to lower-floor living, and installing grab bars, nonslip floors, and walk-in showers in bathrooms.

Less obvious, but still essential, changes include faucets that turn on automatically, higher toilets, and wider doorways for easier access. As the body ages, it becomes more difficult to move around freely and safely. It’s important to make as many accommodations as you can to maintain and improve your quality of life.

Some adults prefer to plan ahead and find a home that converts more easily, while others may even build an open-concept, single-floor dwelling specifically for aging in place. There are many options depending on your budget and needs. Consult with a specialist to find out what you can do.

For many people, getting older presents unique challenges, and facing it often means decreased mobility and independence. Thankfully, many adults are staying active and involved, but the body does have a way of slowing down, and most people are eventually faced with having to ask for help — or accept it.

If you think it might be time for you or a loved one to think about getting more help, there are generally two next-step options to consider.

In-Home Care

For those who do not wish to move out of your current home, but do need extra help, home care may be the best option. You can seek a caregiver privately, by doing research and interviewing candidates, or work with a caregiving agency. Working with an agency has the added benefit of easily replacing or substituting caregivers, though its convenience usually indicates a higher price point than hiring a private caregiver. Agencies also vet and interview their staff, so if you’re looking for someone else to do the research, strongly consider work with a renowned agency. Ask family and friends for referrals or conduct online research for the right fit.

Home care may be a better option for you if you’re looking for part-time assistance and if your home is suitable for aging in place. Part-time home care is typically more affordable than assisted living. As the need for help rises, so does the cost of care. Once at the level of needing full-time or 24-hour care, it’s time to consider other options.

Though many people consider all senior communities as “nursing homes,” there are actually three tiers of senior communities, which offer varying services. Many seniors are fairly independent but require a little extra help don’t need nursing care and should seek other options.

The first tier of senior living is independent living. If you already live on your own, in a house, apartment, condo, or independent senior community, you’re already participating in this type of housing.

Assisted Living

The second tier of senior living, Assisted Living, is the next step up, which generally offers more ADL (assistance with daily living) services.

Most Assisted Living communities feature private apartments or rooms, ADL, housekeeping, laundry assistance, and prepared meals (some have mandatory full meal plans, and others offer kitchenettes and only part-time meal plans).

Though most communities are larger, it’s becoming more common to see smaller assisted living homes, called Residential assisted living, which were usually private residences converted into assisted living quarters. For some people, these communities offer a homey and more familiar space and environment. The pricing is often lower as well.

Prices generally vary, as do services and amenities, so be sure to do your research before settling on one. Some communities require large entrances fees (which are sometimes refundable and sometimes not), and others charge rent that covers utilities and meals, etc.

Choosing assisted living may be the best option for you if your home is not suitable for aging in place. Raised walkways, stairs, narrow walkways and halls, and bathtubs can eventually cause problems for seniors with mobility issues. If your home isn’t easily converted for aging in place with renovations, and you need assistance with daily living, it may be time to think of moving to assisted living. Moving there also has the added benefit of less physical responsibility, since the burdens of housekeeping, cooking, laundry, lawn care, and more are lightened.

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)

To have access to all tiers of senior living, many seniors are now choosing CCRC, a continuing care retirement community. Typically, these communities feature independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing. Some also offer specialized memory care. Having all the options can be beneficial since your needs may change as you get older. It also eases the transition, since it’s generally not a far move, and the management stays the same. Prices usually increase as you move up levels and require more services.

If you think it may be time for you to consider moving to a senior community, consider speaking to a CarePatrol senior housing placement specialist. They will sit down with you, assess your needs and financial situation, and offer the best options they can find. They are also available for tours and guidance during your final search.

As you prepare for a transition to senior living, there are many considerations to be made. Families often overlook the need to have a conversation about their pets. Studies today have shown that pets are good for the overall health of seniors. Owning a pet encourages a senior to focus on something other than their health and forces them to remain active and social.

Many senior living communities are now allowing pets. However, there are many restrictions and additional costs associated with bringing one’s pet to a senior facility. Pets will be evaluated and are limited to cats and smaller sized dogs – all are limited to one pet per resident. Skilled nursing facilities do not permit pets.

As you tour various senior communities, bring a list of your “pet questions and concerns” and ask at each location. Also, many assisted living communities today are investing in “community pets” that live on-site and can be shared among the residents.

While pet-friendly senior living may be the answer for some, it doesn’t work for all. Don’t wait until the last minute to decide what to do with your pet. Encourage your senior to be a part of the decision and maybe even help find a new loving home for their pet with a neighbor or friend.

So, as you prepare for a transition to a senior living community, make sure to include plans for pets. If this happens at the last minute it could add undue stress to your senior’s comfort level in their new home.